About The Tending Practice
For Practitioners Who Want to Feel Connected Again
You became an esthetician because you love helping people feel beautiful, balanced, and seen. But somewhere between the protocols, the marketing, and the pressure to perform, something got lost.
You’re ready to slow down, refine your technique, and remember why you started. That’s where The Tending Practice comes in.
The Industry Problem
The esthetics world is overflowing with passion, skill, and heart — but it’s also moving too fast. Many practitioners are running on autopilot, trying to keep up with trends, product launches, and machines that promise miracles. Somewhere in the rush, the deeper purpose behind this work — human touch, presence, connection — has been lost.
If you’ve ever felt drained after a day of giving, second-guessed your worth, or wondered if there’s more to this career than chasing before-and-after results, you’re not alone.
So many estheticians are craving a slower, more sustainable way to practice — one that honors the nervous system, the fascia, and the quiet intelligence of the body.
I created The Tending Practice to bring us back to that. To help estheticians reconnect with the art, integrity, and impact of intentional touch — and to remind us that the most advanced tool we’ll ever have is already in our hands.
What Makes Tending Different
The Tending Practice is not just another continuing education program. It’s a return to the foundation of our craft — the power of the nervous system, the flow of fascia, and the artistry of human connection.
Every training is rooted in slow, intentional technique, combining modern anatomy with ancient Ayurvedic wisdom. You’ll learn to read tissue, sense energy, and create real, lasting change through the kind of touch that restores — not drains — both practitioner and client.
This is education for estheticians who want to work with depth, clarity, and integrity. Technique matters here. Presence matters more.
Meet Your Instructor
Joann Schermerhorn
LE, AHC, PKT, MLD
For estheticians who crave meaning, mastery, and more ease in their work.
You love this industry — the transformation, the care, the ritual — but something about the pace of it all has started to feel off. Maybe you’re tired of rushing through facials that focus more on products than people. Maybe you’re craving a way to work that feels as restorative for you as it is for your clients.
That’s where I come in.
Hi, I’m Joann — Licensed Esthetician, Educator, and Founder of The Tending Practice
With over two decades of experience in holistic esthetics, advanced facial massage, Ayurveda, Yoga, herbalism, and somatic healing, I’ve dedicated my career to redefining what professional skincare can look and feel like. My training includes Vodder Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Sculptural Face Lifting, Buccal Massage, Panchakarma Therapies, and Ayurvedic Health Counseling — a blend of science, spirit, and embodied care that shapes everything I teach.
I’ve seen firsthand how slowing down changes everything: the results, the relationships, and the way practitioners feel in their own bodies. My mission is to help estheticians move from burnout to balance — without losing the magic that brought them here in the first place.
What I Believe
Technique matters — but presence transforms.
You can’t fake grounded touch. I teach you how to build it.Your nervous system is your best tool.
Regulated practitioners create regulated clients.Education should feel embodied, not overwhelming.
My trainings are hands-on, small, and human — no jargon, no ego, just depth.Slower doesn’t mean less effective.
It means smarter, more intentional, and more sustainable.
Who I Work With + How I Help
I work with licensed estheticians, spa owners, and educators who are ready to refine their touch and reconnect with their purpose. Whether you’re a new graduate or a seasoned professional, my workshops and certifications teach fascia-aware, nervous-system-led facial massage that helps you stand out in the industry — without selling your soul to hustle culture.
From sculptural lifting and buccal massage to lymphatic drainage and Gua Sha, you’ll learn techniques that honor both science and intuition — so you can create experiences that feel as good as they look.
The Transformation
When you train with me, you’ll learn far more than facial massage. You’ll learn to listen through your hands. You’ll regulate your own nervous system, refine your pace, and discover how much more powerful your work becomes when you stop rushing and start tending.
You’ll leave each training confident in your technique, connected to your intuition, and equipped with the tools to create deeply restorative, results-driven treatments — the kind your clients can’t stop talking about.
The Vision
The Tending Practice exists to restore the art of touch to esthetics — and to elevate the next generation of holistic practitioners who lead with presence, wisdom, and care.
This isn’t just about learning technique. It’s about remembering who you are as a healer, an artist, and a human being in this industry.
Together, we’re building a community that values slow beauty, nervous-system literacy, and integrity in education.
Hey, let’s be friends!
Class announcements, touch education, playlists, and grounded reminders to return to your body.